WMT vs COST: Walmart Inc. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation
Side-by-side snapshot of two Consumer Defensive companies — key metrics from our latest data. Reference only, not investment advice.
| Metric | WMT | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Walmart Inc. | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Price | $107.14 | $915.74 |
| Market Cap | $852.63B | $406.11B |
| P/E Ratio | 38.82 | 46.09 |
| EPS | $2.76 | $19.87 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 0.64% |
| 52-Week High | $135.16 | $1,096.50 |
| 52-Week Low | $98.88 | $844.06 |
| Beta | 0.59 | 0.85 |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 22.31% | 29.15% |
| Debt-to-Equity | 71.65% | 60.26% |
| Industry | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
| Exchange | NMS | NMS |
| Employees | 2,100,000 | 341,000 |
Investing Essentials
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
Jack Bogle's case for low-cost index funds, in under 300 pages.
Check Price →Keep budgets, portfolios and goals in one place with a dedicated finance planner.
Check Price →Roger Lowenstein's definitive biography of the world's most famous investor.
Check Price →Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corporation both operate in the Consumer Defensive sector. WMT has a market cap of $852.63B versus COST's $406.11B. On valuation, WMT carries a trailing P/E of 38.82 against 46.09 for COST. In terms of earnings, WMT posts EPS of $2.76 versus COST's $19.87. For price range, WMT has traded between $98.88 and $135.16 over the past 52 weeks, and COST between $844.06 and $1,096.50. On income, WMT yields 0.92% versus COST's 0.64%. On volatility, COST carries the higher beta (WMT 0.59 vs COST 0.85), meaning it has historically moved more sharply than the market. How these figures compare depends on each company's growth profile, margins and competitive position — this snapshot is a starting point for research, not a recommendation.
Comparing two companies becomes much more powerful once you can read their financials directly — financial statement analysis guides are a practical next step. Many investors track comparisons like this in a dedicated stock research journal.
Figures are from our latest data snapshot and may not reflect current market prices. See the full profiles: Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corporation. This is not financial advice.
Recommended Reading
Peter Lynch on how everyday investors can spot winners before the professionals do.
Check Price →Keep budgets, portfolios and goals in one place with a dedicated finance planner.
Check Price →Robert Kiyosaki's bestseller on assets, liabilities and financial literacy.
Check Price →